Chelsea have submitted a bid “north of €50 million” ($57m) to sign Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund next summer, sources have said.
Bundesliga leaders Dortmund have ruled out selling the U.S. attacking midfielder in the January transfer window, but he will be allowed to leave the club in six months’ time subject to an acceptable transfer fee.
Pulisic has assured the club he will not run down his existing contract, which expires in 2020, but Dortmund are aware he has his heart set on leaving Germany.
Chelsea are in pole position to win the race for the 20-year-old’s signature with rival bids from the Premier League yet to emerge from Manchester United, Arsenal or Liverpool, and Dortmund are in no rush to conclude the deal in case counteroffers arrive.
United, who have expressed an interest in the player in the past, have not made any firm contact with BVB since Jose Mourinho’s dismissal two weeks ago.
The feeling in Dortmund is that United will first attempt to find a long-term successor to caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before they turn to prospective transfer targets for next season.
Jurgen Klopp has Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah as his first-choice options in attack, with Xherdan Shaqiri adding depth and impressing following his £13m arrival in the summer.
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